UAE researchers harness drones for cloud-seeding success

In a groundbreaking scientific study, researchers in the UAE have demonstrated the efficacy of using drone technology to enhance cloud-seeding operations. The study, conducted by the UAE Research Programme for Rain Enhancement Science (UAEREP) under the National Centre of Meteorology (NCM), showcased the potential of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) in improving the precision and efficiency of cloud seeding.

Led by Prof. Eric Frew from the University of Colorado, Boulder, the research team employed an engineering approach utilizing autonomous UAS technology to identify optimal regions for precipitation enhancement through cloud seeding. The main challenge they sought to address was the real-time identification and utilization of sub-cloud features to deliver the seeding material at the right time and location within the targeted cloud.

To tackle this challenge, the team devised an autonomous system design that incorporated sensors, algorithms, operators, and observers from various locations worldwide. This dispersed autonomy architecture enabled the UAS to conduct comprehensive search, identification, execution, monitoring, and evaluation of cloud-seeding operations, thereby enhancing precipitation.

To validate their concept of operations (CONOPS) and the implementation of the autonomous system, the team conducted a three-week-long field campaign in the US Great Plains in August 2021. Initially, they deployed a single-aircraft CONOPS to ensure the seamless functioning and communication of all system components. Upon successfully completing this phase, they progressed to a two-aircraft CONOPS for tandem cloud measurements and seeding manoeuvres.

During the campaign, a total of nine flights were conducted on eight different days, accumulating over eight hours of flight time, including approximately three hours of multi-aircraft flights. These flights demonstrated the capability of the dual UAS mission in a typical rain enhancement seeding operational environment.

Moreover, a single UAS successfully flew to a region of interest determined from remote sensing data, identified a seedable region, initiated the seeding manoeuvre, and continued seeding while measuring seedable conditions and conducting evaluation manoeuvres multiple times.

These results signify the potential utility of UAS in cloud-seeding operations, positioning the technology at a readiness level between Prototype and Near-Operational environments. The incorporation of drone technology offers advantages such as improved targeting efficiency, leading to enhanced outcomes with greater confidence in the seeding effect.

The technology transfer of the UAS and customized sensor payloads to the NCM was successfully accomplished in the first quarter of 2023. This milestone marks a significant advancement in the UAE’s ability to optimize cloud-seeding efforts, furthering its commitment to rain enhancement and sustainable water resource management.